Jharkhand CM sets 15-day deadline to operationalise University Service Commission
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Ranchi, July 13: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday conducted a high-level review of the Department of Higher…
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, July 13: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday conducted a high-level review of the Department of Higher and Technical Education and directed officials to accelerate reforms aimed at modernising higher education and aligning it with global standards.
Reviewing the department’s performance for 2025-26 and the action plan for the current financial year, the Chief Minister said higher and technical education would play a key role in transforming Jharkhand from a “mining” economy to a “mind” (knowledge-based) economy.
Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar and senior departmental officials, including Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar and HRD Principal Secretary Rahul Purwar, attended the meeting.
University Service Commission, Coaching Authority in 15 days
Soren directed officials to make the Jharkhand University Service Commission operational within the next 15 days. He also asked the department to activate the Coaching Regulatory Authority within the same timeframe to regulate coaching institutions offering higher education and employment-oriented courses.
The Chief Minister further directed officials to prepare a roadmap for introducing live online classes in state universities from the 2026-27 academic session. Officials said the initiative would begin as a pilot project at Jharkhand Raksha Shakti University and Binod Bihari Mahto Koyalanchal University (BBMKU), Dhanbad.
CBT centres approved for all state universities
The meeting granted in-principle approval for establishing Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in all state universities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to strengthen digital examination infrastructure.
Focus on student welfare schemes
Reviewing the Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme (GSCC), Soren was informed that 2,888 students had been approved for education loans, while banks had so far disbursed ₹64 crore to 243 students. The state government is providing a full guarantee for these education loans.
The Chief Minister directed officials to coordinate with the Welfare Department to ensure that all eligible students benefit from the scheme and that no student is deprived of higher education due to financial constraints.
He also emphasised the speedy implementation of scholarship schemes, including the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Overseas Scholarship Scheme and the Manki Munda Scholarship Scheme.
BIT Sindri to become a unitary university
The Chief Minister approved the proposal to upgrade BIT Sindri into a Unitary University and directed the department to prepare the required legislation and expedite the process.
He also asked officials to prepare a comprehensive digital presentation on BIT Sindri as part of the state’s technical education transformation initiative.
Technical education clusters, new courses planned
The government plans to establish technical education clusters in nine districts—Palamu, Giridih, Ramgarh, Gumla, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Godda and Sahibganj.
Soren also directed officials to upgrade Government Polytechnic Colleges into Jharkhand Institutes of Technology and Government Technology Colleges into Birsa Institutes of Technology.
He instructed the department to introduce industry-oriented courses in artificial intelligence, robotics, textile design and manufacturing, logistics and shipping, electric vehicles, and semiconductor manufacturing to improve employment opportunities for students.
Alternative funding, hostels and JUPMI
The Chief Minister asked officials to identify alternative sources of funding for higher education within the next three months.
He also directed that vacant university posts be filled, hostels assessed for infrastructure improvement, and their management explored under the PPP model.
The meeting also decided to transfer the Jharkhand Urban Planning and Management Institute (JUPMI) to the Department of Higher and Technical Education. The institute will offer courses in Bachelor of Planning, Master of Planning, and MBA in Infrastructure Management.
Robotics festival launched
Officials informed the Chief Minister that the Jharkhand Robotics Festival has been launched for the first time for students of higher and technical educational institutions to promote learning in artificial intelligence and robotics.
Soren directed the department to ensure the effective implementation of all higher education schemes and focus on skill development, innovation and quality education to prepare Jharkhand’s youth for future employment.
